Coal-chute



(NoModel.) K i J. MGBAGHERN.

GOAL CHUTE.

No. 324,865; Patented Aug.. 25, 1885.

WITNESSS JNVEJVTOR MJ J @www w22-@WM 1 .Attorney JAMES MenAcHERN, or WENoNA, iLLiNois.

COAL-CHUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 324,865, dated August 25, 1385.

Application tiled Apri] 30, 1885. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES MCEACHERN, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at NVcnona, in the county of Marshall and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Chutes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exact description or" the saine, iet`- ereiice being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a perspective View of a chute and frame provided with iny improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot' the saine partly in section, and Fig. 3 a detail view of one ot" the guidebars and chutesections.

This invention has foi; its object to provide an improved extension for chutes that will be cheap, durable, and easily manipulated.

The novelty consists in a double folding chute or platform, one section of which is weighted and constructed to fold upward, while the other or outer section is hinged to said weighted scction and constructed to fold downward, heilig assisted insiieh movement by its own weight, also, in combining with said folding sections an equalizing device for distrihntingthe strain on the sustaining orbrace chains, all as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, and more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

I n the drawings, A represents a frame, and I3 a chute, otord inary constructi on, designed to he used in loading boxwears ata coatshat't orgrain at a warehouse. The chuteB is providedwitli side rails, b, to prevent the material passing down said chute from falling over the sides.

To the t'ront cross-beam, A, ot" the traine A vare secured, preferably to the under side, by

eyebolts or in any convenient way,one end ot' the chains G G.

l) D are links, each cast in one piece and coniprised of the side bars, d, the center ot' each of which is enlarged, as shown at d, to receive the pivotpin ot" an equalizing-lever soon tobe dcscribed. rIhese side bars terminate at their upper ends i n ahook, d, which is passed through a link ofthe chain C. The lower end ot" this link is provided with a hole in which is secured one end of the main supporting-chain E.

F is the inner section of the double folding extension chute or platform, and Gfis the outer section thereot.

To the under side of the chute B are secured, in any convenient manner,straps B', terminating at one end (the outer) in eyes, and on the under side of the section Fof the extension are similar straps, with the exception that they have an eye at each end.

On the under side of the section G are straps B2, the inner ends of which terminatein eyes. Through the coincident eyes of thel strapsare passed pivot-pins b b2,on which the twosections turn. The outer straps of the section F are provided with extensions f, to which are secured the other ends of the main supportingchains E.

H is an equalizing-lever pivoted in the link D and free to oscillate between the side bars thereof. To one end of this lever is attached one end ofthe bracechain I, lthe opposite end ot` which is secured to astud, projecting from the outer endV ofthe section Gr. To the other end of this lever is attached one end ot' theinner brace-chain, K, the other end of which is attached to the inner edge of the section F, as shown.

Near each end of the brace rod A? of the frame A is secured a linilley-hlock, L, carrying a pulley, L.

M is a chain secured at one endl to the ey' tensionj" of the strap B`l on the under side ot the section F. After passing over the pnlley L this chain has attached to its other end a weight, N, which is inclosed in a box, O, made for this purpose and seen red to thet'ranie in any convenient manner.

Near the inner corners ot the section F, and near the outer corners ot' the section G, are t'ornied keyhole-shaped slots g.

l are guide-bars designed to keep the inaterial from faling off the sides ot' the extension and to guide the said material into the receptacle. Each ot' these bars is provided at cach end with a hook, y), having an enlarged head, and hy inserting the head of these hooks in the enlarged part ot the slots and then drawing the hars toward the outer edge ofthe extens'ininsaid bars will be locked in place. Vhen thnslocked in position, they not only serve Itogiiide the material into the receptacle, but keep the extension-sections in their unfolded position and brace the saine against any tendency to double up.

Q are guide-plates attached to the side rails IOT) of the chute B near their lower ends. guide-plates serve not only to guide or direct the falling material onto the extensions, but in a measure to prevent the material from coming in contact with and clogging up the pulleys L.

My device can be readily attached to any chute now in use Without the employment of a skilled mechanic, and will be found verypefficient and durable.

The operation is as follows: The sections F and G are extended, as shown in the drawings, when the guide-bars P are secured in position in the manner already described, and the coal or material being unloaded is dumped into the inclined chute B, down which it slides onto the extensions F G, being prevented from falling over the sides of the chute by the side rails, b, and guided onto said extensions by the guide-plates Q. The weight of the material is borne by the mainsupporting-chains C E; but if from a sudden strain or any other cause the chains E should break, the weight would be borne by the brace-chains I K, and by reason of their connection with the equalizer H, which is free to oseillate on its pivot, the strain on said chains would be evenly distributed, no matter on which section the greater weight happens to be placed.

When not in use, the guiderails P are removed and the sections are folded by simply lifting on section F by means of the chains E,

These or any other convenient way, when the section F will turn on its pivot and fold upward,- being assisted by the weight N, While the seetion G will turn on its pivot and fold down ward, being carried by its own weight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. isv

1. An extension for chutes,eomposed of two sections hinged together, the inner section constructed to fold upward and the outer seetion to fold downward,combined with aweight attached to said inner section, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the folding sections of an extension-platform, of supportingchains, an equalizing-lever, and brace-chaius connecting said lever with said sections, as and for the purposes specified.

3. A coal-chute consisting of a frame provided with a chute and an extension thereto, composed of two hinged sections having detachable guidebars, a weight, supportingchains, and equalizinglever andbrace-chaius,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name inthe presence of tWo witnesses.

JAMES MCEACHERN. Witnesses:

EDWARD LAUGHHLIN, J Mns J. C. RAMsEY. 

